sarahdd wrote:
I am wondering –  if I change the construction type to an elevated lightweight structure, timber floor, elevated 20cm off the ground, sitting on piers going around the perimeter of the building…..wouldn't this mean we don't have to encase the sewer? As there is no weight bearing down on the ground over the sewer?
If this is the…[Read more]

Just do a Google search for Granny Flats Sydney.
There are more and more granny flat builders popping up every day! In 2009 there were two of us doing granny flats. Now there's like 20 or more!

KERRY_DEEP wrote:

Hi Brazen,

Would you do the 2bd rm granny flat including above + connecting services for 70k ?

I'd hire a builder and go back to what I do best.

Well you don't have to notify any Government or other agencies. The postman will just see the 100A and pop the envelope in there. So perhaps make sure the two letterboxes are close together for the postman.

heehee good little postman!

1. The Government incentive is about to stop – around the time of the federal elections.
2. The scheme doesn't cover individual granny flats. Its more for cluster homes and group homes etc.

It doesn't affect them at all proogle.
Granny flats are 'secondary dwellings' under the State SEPP legislation. This means Local Council's have NO SAY in whether or not you can have one designed and built in NSW.

The rules for building granny flats are summarised here:

Granny Flat Approval Guide – Sydney NSW

Brazen.

Are you applying under the 'Affordable Rental Housing SEPP'? If so, you can simply install a 'dispersion pit' in the rear yard, These are not too expensive and the submitted Drainage Plan would show this detail. The SEPP legislation for granny flats allows, where a property slopes to the rear an no Drainage Easement exists, for the installation of…[Read more]

$65k?

Add the rest> $65k + Site costs (average around $25k) + Approvals (around $7k) + Section 94 Contribution (average $5k) = $102k is going to be the real price. 

Best to be upfront about the REAL COST of building, no?

RE: Modular/Transportable Homes
At 99% of Councils these CANNOT be approved under the State 'SEPP' legislation which is the road to granny flat approval in NSW. The reason is long-winded but goes to the definition of a Building under the EP&A Regulations. Only Blacktown Council have ever caught me out on this but it's something to consider.

RE:…[Read more]

$800 per sq m? That's way too much. It should be around $1,500 per sq m.

Flat-Pack Homes/Transportable Homes cannot be approved as granny flats under the SEPP, sorry. This is because they're not considered dwellings under the BCA.

Brazen.

Why try and approve a granny flat through Ryde Council when you can totally bypass them and get approval through the 'Affordable Rental Housing SEPP'?

Ryde will:
1. Charge you more
2. Have rules regarding additional parking etc
3. Take longer to approve the granny flat.

The only reason to use Council (instead of a Private certifier) is if your…[Read more]

sinders wrote:
Hi Brazen, Does the SEPP AND 10 DAY RULE apply for NSW only. Or does it apply for VIC too. If not, is there something similar.
Regards,
Sinders 

Its Just NSW only m8, sorry.

Hi god-of-money,

if you still need this info, converting a garage into a granny flat, read this article on the process:

Garage Conversions into Granny Flats – Easy Approval Methods

Ant the approval process:

Garage Conversions – Process & Pricing

Cheers,

Brazen

Hi grantos-champos,

The biggest issue with converting a part of an existing house into a granny flat is the Fire-Separation requirements of the Building Code of Australia.

The 2 separated dwellings must be sealed in three dimensions from fire. This means, with a 2-storey separation, that the ceiling/floor barrier must be removed and re-done via…[Read more]

Hi Woody,

Electricity:
Your electrician will install a separate meter inside the existing meter box, so that when the Energy man comes and reads the meter, he will read for 2 separate accounts.

Water:
You CAN have a separate meter but I would highly recommend you don't do that. The reason i say this is because the RENT on water meters is quite…[Read more]

Hi Hadoman,

As an investor, you are in a good position to search for a "granny flat friendly property", which will minimize costs and maximize privacy and separation between the 2 tenants as well.

The block must be minimum 450 sq m and be at least 12 meters wide, measured AT the building line. i.e. measured across the front of the granny…[Read more]

Hi Sinders,

Legally you'd have no problem in building a granny flat in the back of the existing property. There are some pre-requisites that the property must meet; see here for a granny flat approval guide:

Granny Flat Approval Guide – Sydney NSW

I arranged the approval for the local NSW Housing manager in Orange last year. He built a 2-storey granny flat with a local builder. If you contact me i can give you his number- I'm sure he can give you some valuable insights into choosing a local builder as well.

I think with Cadia Gold Mine and other mining works in the areas towards…[Read more]

Hi Colin,

The first important note about the area you're looking at is that Blacktown City Council charge what's called 'Section 94 Contribution Fees', which, for a 2 bedroom granny flat is around $5,000, whereas Penrith City Council charge zero if the 'soct of works' is under $100,000.

The second thing to note is that granny flats can be…[Read more]